Chris Durant, staff One cold, dark, depressing winter day there was a knock on the office door in Arcata! I froze. I could hear the knock through my headphones while watching Unlikely Animal Friends on Netflix. “I didn’t order anything. Who’s knocking?” I wondered to myself. “Has the landlord finally had enough of me moving my scream therapy classes …

Cursive Vitriola Chuck McCammon, contributor For those already familiar with Cursive, you are going to love this album of dark musical complexity and existential ruminations. Vitriola has everything listeners desire from primary songwriter/vocalist Tim Kasher. There’s personal awareness of triumphs and failures. His humble blood drips over every second. The entire band emphasizes the shifting motifs brilliantly as they have always …

Sam Greenspan, contributor The self-titled album from Alex Bortnichak, or Eating Club, is truly a dynamic showcase of not only his inherent talent (Bortnichak being responsible for almost all instruments heard on the record), but also his influences. This deeply personal album is one of the best displays of self I’ve heard from an artist; it’s intrinsic authenticity standing out passionately in …

Matt Redbeard and Evan Vest, contributors Strain: Hot Berry Grower: Sunrise Mountain Farms Redbeard: It’s a total mindfuck. You get caught up in this very flavorful bouquet of berries and like, pepper and cheesecake, then you realize that you’re levitating and your third eye is way wide open and hella bloodshot. I’ve never gotten …

Andrea Bartunek, contributor For a band who’s name is also a burger chain in New Jersey, White Manna is rad and not at all greasy. Oh and not to mention, they’re from Humboldt. Although they’re touring the world at the moment like a bunch of badasses, you should try to catch them when they’re back in America. If you’re into …

Chaps Blue Ribbon, contributor METZ have not lost their taste for smashing out a heavy groove, riding the fuck out of it, then jumping immediately into the next one. Strange Peace is loud, noisy, angular post-punk rock from our friends in the Great White North (Canada). It’s almost like every member of this three piece band is playing percussion. …

Free from the restraints of seminal punk noise legends Sonic Youth, Lee Ranaldo has fully realized his musical ambitions on his latest record. If Sonic Youth were the Beatles, Ranaldo would be George Harrison, and Electric Trimis his All Things Must Pass. Album opener “Moroccan Mountains” embraces Ranaldo’s love for all things 1960’s and psychedelic. The track sounds much like …

Dutch Savage, contributor I am guessing this band is from Seattle? Acclaimed grunge producer Jack Endino worked with This Blinding Light to create a riff-pop sludge grunge Rock and Roll EP and it does not disappoint. Catchy riffs and college-radio vocals smash themselves together, creating a kind of heaviness — not quite “Melvins-heavy,” but definitely producing a thickness …

Kit Morris, contributor Opening their third decade, QOTSA just delivered a monument of creativity — ambitious, well crafted songs that are reverent to their pre-Kyuss seeds of inspiration, woven with an unexpectedly fresh modern production and fully realized arrangements that bring every player into focus as never before. Synths are cranked with the guitars, basslines frequently take on a …